Lake County crash leaves 1 dead, 1 seriously injured after car goes airborne, hits tree: FHP

Lake County crash leaves 1 dead, 1 seriously injured

One person is dead, and another is seriously injured, after a Friday night crash in Lake County where a car went airborne and hit a tree, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) say. It is currently unclear what caused the car to run off the road. Troopers say that the exact time that the crash occurred is still under investigation.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - One person is dead, and another is seriously injured, after a Friday night crash in Lake County where a car went airborne and hit a tree, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) say. 

What we know:

The FHP says the crash took place around 10 p.m. Friday on County Road 439 and Live Oak Ranch Road in Lake County. 

According to a crash report, a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette was traveling northbound on C.R. 439, approaching Live Oak Ranch Road, when it ran off the roadway right at high rates of speed. 

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The car then went airborne and struck a tree, troopers say. 

Officials responded to the scene around 8:07 a.m. on Saturday after a resident called FHP, saying he saw vehicle parts and the driver on his property. 

The driver of the car, a 28-year-old man from Belleview, was thrown from the car and died at the scene. Troopers say the man was not wearing a seatbelt. 

Meanwhile, the passenger, a 34-year-old man from Ocala, according to family, was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The man was reported as wearing his seatbelt. 

What we don't know:

It is currently unclear what caused the car to run off the road and how long the passenger remained in the car until he recieved help. Troopers say that the exact time that the crash occurred is still under investigation.

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What they're saying:

FOX 35 Reporter Stephanie Buffamonte went to the scene of the crash and spoke with both the resident who found the passenger in the car and the father of the man who was injured in the crash. Buffamonte said the area is very rural.

The resident told Buffamonte that she found debris on her property and called 911. That's when first responders came and began their search for the car in the heavily wooded area. 

According to the resident, the trooper yelled, "Is anyone here?" The passenger was then heard to faintly yell "I'm here," which is when they found him and airlifted him to the hospital. 

The father of the man injured in the crash said his son broke his neck and back and is now undergoing surgery. 

What's next:

The crash remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates.